As we steer the car around one final curve on the road to the entrance of Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, one thing is certain: the wind is the center of everything here. It’s nature’s great architect, diligently sculpting and molding the dunes on a daily basis for more than 400,000 years. It’s the great protector—whispering cautious tales to visitors that scale the dunes (the tallest of which rises 750 feet). It’s a reminder of the beauty of change. At night, while the westerly winds rest, we watch in silence as a full moon and a blanket of stars emerge to take their posts to keep watch over the shifting grains of sand that make up one of the country’s most beautiful and unique natural treasures.

Photo Location: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Postcards From the Weekend is our weekly photo series showcasing images and stories from our adventurous and outdoor-loving contributors at Elevation Outdoor Magazine. Follow along and see where our team of adventure-seekers like to spend their weekends.